Category Archives: Tribal

Anthony Marnell III answers your questions

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

Anonymous: What happened to the self-serve soda fountains? [They] actually became a Health Department issue. They’re very expensive to maintain and the public had basically worn them out. There were lots of problems with the syrup and things falling down … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, M Resort, Marketing, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

So it begins

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

Slow news day: There wasn’t much worth noting yesterday, other than some preliminary numbers out of Pennsylvania (i.e., slot revenues). Table games money could change the picture but, so far, June is looking like a good month for Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Environment, M Resort, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

ACH-ooo!; The Admiral’s last voyage

Posted on July 1, 2011 by David McKee

For the second time in a week, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has stripped its name from a Colony Capital casino-hotel. First to go was the Las Vegas Hilton, to be known next year as [your logo here]. Today comes news … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Lies, damned lies and smoking

Posted on June 28, 2011 by David McKee

Although Illinois‘ casino industry has fallen and can’t get up, the state’s smoking ban has nothing to do with it. Nada! That’s the contention of a study out of Washington University (my brother’s alma mater), which says that players “never … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | 3 Comments

Illinois: Optimism or suicide?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

It doesn’t matter to state Rep. Lou Lang (D, right) that Illinois‘ casino revenues are puny compared to those of neighboring Indiana or that St. Louis-area players are defecting in droves. He wants racinos and more casinos, by golly, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | 2 Comments

Genting’s amphibious strategy

Posted on June 24, 2011 by David McKee

There may not be Vegas-style casinos in Florida yet (at least not non-tribal ones) but Genting Bhd is taking a gamble of its own. While Sheldon Adelson talks about putting $3 billion into the Miami area, Genting is already doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Isle sheds a spare part; Bluhm rebounds

Posted on June 20, 2011 by David McKee

Not long ago, S&G was musing aloud at the oddity of Isle of Capri Casinos running two riverboats on Lake Charles, one of which grossed only $1 million or so a month. That seemed rather an extravagance. Somebody at Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Lee, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

They’ve seen the future …

Posted on June 10, 2011 by David McKee

… and it’s Singapore. That’s good news if you’re Sheldon Adelson, less auspicious if you’ve got a weak track record as a developer (coughCaesars Entertainmentcough). And if Chad Mollman‘s correct, does this mean Steve Wynn has soured on his proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

The ‘hot’ list that’s not; Grumpy old Fulton; A threat from Quinn

Posted on June 3, 2011 by David McKee

A sudden barrage of commissions has been getting between me and S&G. At the very least, I can get a few quick hits in before the weekend. For instance … Earth to Vegas.com … while I realize that Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Ruffin it; Atlantic City: up in smoke?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Nightclubs — we just didn’t fare well with them. There are so many nightclubs. Everyone’s got just one or two. Ours were just marginal.” That’s Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin‘s argument for repositioning the pirate place for a mid-market, middle-aged … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Kansas, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, New York, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

John Kasich, casino killer

Posted on May 3, 2011 by David McKee

Aw, isn’t this great? After Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) made the ludicrous claim that Ohio voters didn’t know what they were getting into when they approved a casino initiative in 2008, his legislative allies are trying to up the ante. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Lyle Berman, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Was Pokergeddon a setup?

Posted on May 2, 2011 by David McKee

In his latest column, “Prohibition Is Not Regulation” (an early draft can be seen here) gaming-law guru I. Nelson Rose rakes the Obama administration for choosing “to ignore the lessons of history and take worst aspects of the choices available.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Why Trump won’t run

Posted on April 29, 2011 by David McKee

Two words: Mob ties. Yes, Donald “100 Percent Clean” Trump did business — repeatedly — with a man he believed (or, best case, seriously feared) to be the murderer of Jimmy Hoffa. He also employed an individual identified by U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, history, Isle of Capri, New York, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Blockbuster month in Pennsylvania; Resurgence in Atlantic City; Douchebag of the Decade

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

You want good news? We’ve got your good news right here: Casino revenues in Pennsylvania rocketed 24% last month. (35% if you include SugarHouse but that’s an apples-to-oranges metric.) Since, on a same-store basis, slot winnings were just slightly down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Fire sale in Vicksburg; Win or loss for Gettysburg?

Posted on April 15, 2011 by David McKee

Update: An earlier version contained a gross error/AARP moment on Yr. Humble Blogger’s part. I have amended the story so that it contains greater “factiness.” Also, fellow Canadian firm Gateway Casinos is the likely operator-to-be. In a curt announcement, Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, history, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Marriott moots LV casino

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David McKee

Offering Sin City a slim reed of hope, Marriott International has let it be known — through “trailer station” operator United Coin — that it hopes to build a 3,500-room casino-hotel directly opposite the Las Vegas Convention Center. Considering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Florida, Harrah's, history, LVCVA, Mississippi, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 5 Comments

Florida rejects Adelson; Mixed signals from Cosmo; Station’s quixotic quest

Posted on March 31, 2011 by David McKee

It’s all over — until 2012, anyway — for Sheldon Adelson‘s heavy-handed push to ram a set of “destination resorts” through the Florida Legislature. A poison-pill amendment, attached at the behest of parimutuels, would let existing slot houses go to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, International, Macau, North Las Vegas, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Florida rejects Adelson; Mixed signals from Cosmo; Station’s quixotic quest

Terry the Casino Slayer

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

When Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) was campaigning to reclaim his old office from Chet Culver (D), he argued against Culver’s casino-expansion plan, arguing that it was economically inadvisable. With the Iowa casino market not so much saturated as waterlogged, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Terry the Casino Slayer

Packer packs it in; Lights out at Resorts A.C.

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

James Packer‘s had enough of the U.S. casino market. While not definitively ruling out a return to the American gaming industry, the minority owner of Cannery Casino Resorts makes it clear that he’s neither the stomach nor the lucre for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, history, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Adelson hits Florida speed bump

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

Gov. Rick Scott‘s big — and rather sudden — push to bring (more) private-sector casinos to Florida has run into a road block. The governor’s Tea Party base, of all people, is throwing up opposition … and not for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Genting, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments